DEKATRON Meaning and
Definition
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A Dekatron is a type of electronic counting tube or gas-filled decade counter used in early computer systems and scientific equipment for numerical counting and timing purposes. It is also known as a "decade counter tube" or "gas-discharge tube."
The Dekatron consists of a cylindrical glass envelope containing a series of ten electrodes shaped like inverted U's. The electrodes are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tube and are numbered from 0 to 9. The tube is filled with a low-pressure inert gas, such as neon, which emits a visible glow when ionized.
To operate the Dekatron, a voltage is applied across the appropriate input electrodes to count pulses. Each time a pulse is received, an electronic discharge is triggered, causing a glow discharge to move from one electrode to the next in sequence. The position of the glow discharge indicates the count of the pulses, with the electrode illuminated at any given time representing the current digit.
Dekatrons were widely used before the advent of solid-state electronic components, particularly in systems requiring accurate timing and numerical calculations. They provided a reliable and visible means of counting and displaying data, making them popular in early computers and scientific instruments. Today, Dekatrons are considered historical artifacts, with their functions largely replaced by modern electronic technology.
Common Misspellings for DEKATRON
- sekatron
- xekatron
- cekatron
- fekatron
- rekatron
- eekatron
- dwkatron
- dskatron
- ddkatron
- drkatron
- d4katron
- d3katron
- dejatron
- dematron
- delatron
- deoatron
- deiatron
- dekztron
- dekstron
- dekwtron
Etymology of DEKATRON
The word "dekatron" is derived from two Greek roots: "deka" meaning "ten" and "tron" meaning "device" or "instrument".
The dekatron is a specific type of gas-filled tube or vacuum tube used primarily as a counting or numerical device in early digital computers. It consists of ten cathodes arranged in a circular pattern, with an anode in the center. By applying appropriate signals to the cathodes, the dekatron can count from 0 to 9. The name "dekatron" reflects its ability to count up to ten, based on the Greek root for "ten" (deka).
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